Enclosure sealing device

ABSTRACT

A device ( 20 ) for sealing an aperture ( 22 ) for a fixing such as a bolt ( 24 ) for a sealed enclosure ( 26 ) has a body ( 28 ) having an aperture ( 30 ) extending from a first surface ( 32 ) to a second surface ( 34 ). Body ( 28 ) also has a chamfered surface ( 36 ) and a retaining means ( 38 ) adjacent the first surface ( 32 ) to engage and seal the body ( 28 ) within aperture ( 22 ) of enclosure ( 26 ). Body ( 28 ) also has a cap engaging means ( 40 ) adjacent the second surface ( 34 ). The device also includes a cap ( 42 ) and a sealing gasket ( 46 ). In order to provide an adequate seal preventing water entering enclosure ( 26 ), the body 28 is inserted into aperture ( 22 ) and attached thereto. The enclosure is then offered to a wall and bolt ( 24 ) inserted through aperture is then offered to a wall and bolt ( 24 ) inserted through aperture ( 30 ) and fixed in a corresponding hole in the wall. The cap ( 42 ) can then be located on body ( 28 ) and gasket ( 46 ) assists in sealing the cap ( 42 ) and body ( 28 ).

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing device for anenclosure and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a device forsealing an aperture through which a fixing is inserted and therebysealing the enclosure against infiltrations of liquids under pressure,such as water from a jet washing system.

[0002] It is well known to use conduit and trunking when installingelectrical cables in order to keep such cables in tidy order. Suchconduit and trunking also allows for easy cleaning, whereas loose cablesprovide large surface areas which are difficult to clean. In thepharmaceutical, food and beverage industries it is commonplace to makesuch trunking and conduit from stainless steel with as smooth anexternal surface as is possible so as to provide an easy to cleansurface with as few sharp corners, crevices and other hard to cleanfeatures as possible. Such trunking and conduit provide an electricalcable carrying system which can be kept hygienically clean with aslittle effort and expense as possible.

[0003] An example of a component of a trunking or conduit system is thebox shown in FIG. 1. The box 1 comprises a body 2 and lid 3. Lid 3 maybe attached to body 2 by screw fixings 4 and is typically sealed by arubber gasket (not shown) inside lid 3. Box 1 may be attached to a wallby a fixing means, such as a screw, through holes 5.

[0004] Where such boxes are installed, a commonly used method ofcleaning is pressure washing using water directed at the article to becleaned under high pressure. The velocity and pressure of water used inthis method of cleaning can cause infiltration of water into the box 1through holes 5. Clearly, water entering a system carrying electriccables is undesirable. The gasket within lid 3 is sufficient to preventwater entry at the junction between lid 3 and body 2. Plastic washershave been used in an attempt to provide a seal between the fixing usedand hole 5. However, such attempts at sealing often prove inadequate, asseals may not align correctly, may split under the application ofpressure or perish, thereby allowing water to continue to enter box 1.

[0005]FIG. 2 shows an example of an attempted solution to this problem.Body 2 has a rear attaching plate 6 connected to it, the plate 6 havingholes 7 therein through which fixings can attach the body 2 to a wall.Although such a method of fixing, having the holes outside the box,prevents the above mentioned problem of water ingress, this arrangementhas the disadvantages that even with fixings in holes 7 some dirt isable to become lodged therein, and the joint between plate 6 and body 2indicated at 8 and 9 can also trap dirt since it is difficult orexpensive to make these junctions smooth

[0006] An alternative to this box is shown in FIG. 3 in which a plate10, having holes 11 therein, is bent so as to provide clearance betweenbody 2 and the wall to which it is attached. The clearance provides theopportunity to clean behind body 2. However, the disadvantages ofexternal fixings extending through apertures 11 are still retained inthis example. Furthermore, larger articles may become stuck behind plate10 which would be inclined to trap dirt and infestation.

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcomethe above described disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a device forsealing an aperture for receiving a fixing for a sealed enclosure, thedevice comprising:

[0009] a body having an aperture extending from a first surface of saidbody to a second surface of said body and adapted to receive a saidfixing, a fixing engaging portion for engaging said fixing, andretaining means adjacent said first end for engaging and sealing saidbody within the aperture of the enclosure; and

[0010] a cap for engaging said body to close said aperture at saidsecond surface.

[0011] By providing a sealing device as defined above, the advantage isprovided that an enclosure can be attached to, for instance, a wall by afixing which can be accessed from inside the enclosure whilst providinga water-tight seal for the enclosure even against water applied underhigh pressure such as by a jet washing system.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, said retaining means is adapted toengage said enclosure by means of mutually engaging threads in saidretaining means and said aperture of said enclosure.

[0013] By joining the body of the sealing device to the enclosure bymeans of mutually engaging threads, the advantage is provided that thesealing device can be subsequently removed from the enclosure.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, said retaining means is adaptedto be welded to said enclosure.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, said retaining means isadapted to be rivetted to said enclosure.

[0016] Rivetted and welded bodies have the advantage that once sealedthey remain in position and are unlikely to become accidentallydislodged or unscrewed.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, said body and said cap engage eachother in use by means of mutually engaging threads.

[0018] A screw-on cap has the advantage of easy access to the fixingbelow and can be opened and resealed repeatedly with limited risk ofdamage to the seal.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the thread on the body is formed on asurface of the aperture of said body.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, said body and said cap engage eachother in use by means of a snap-on fitting.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, said cap is provided with a gasketseal.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, said body is made substantially ofstainless steel.

[0023] In another preferred embodiment, said cap is made substantiallyof plastic.

[0024] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first prior art enclosure;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second prior art enclosure;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third prior art enclosure;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a sealing deviceembodying the present invention; and

[0029]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 4.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a device 20 for sealing an aperture22 for a fixing such as a bolt 24 for a sealed enclosure 26 has a body28 having an aperture 30 extending from a first surface 32 to a secondsurface 34. Body 28 also has a fixing engaging portion 36 and aretaining means 38 adjacent the first surface 32 to engage and seal thebody 28 within aperture 22 of enclosure 26. The fixing engaging portion36 is in the example shown a chamfered surface angled so as to engage acorresponding chamfered surface of the head of the bolt 24. Body 28 alsohas a cap engaging means 40 adjacent the second surface 34. The devicealso includes a cap 42, itself having engaging means 44 for engaging capengaging means 40, and a sealing gasket 46. The engaging means 40, 44may be cooperating threaded surfaces.

[0031] The enclosure 26, much like that shown in the prior art of FIG.1, has in at least one of its walls apertures 22 through which areinserted fixings 24 to fix the enclosure 26 to a wall or like surface.In order to provide an adequate seal preventing water entering enclosure26, the body 28 is inserted into aperture 22 and attached to theaperture by means of welding. Alternatively, the engaging means 38 mightbe a rivetting, where the exposed first surface 32 of body 28 is beateninto engagement with the sides of aperture 22 (which may be angled, asthough counter-sunk from outside the enclosure, to assist engagement),or threaded with the internal surface of aperture 22 being mutuallythreaded.

[0032] With the body 28 engaged with the aperture of enclosure 26, theenclosure can be offered to a wall and bolt 24 inserted through aperture30 so as to engage a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the wall,thereby retaining the enclosure 26 against the wall. The cap 42 can thenbe located on body 28 and secured there by means of mutually engagingthreads 40 and 44. Gasket 46 assists in sealing the cap 42 and body 28.

[0033] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that theabove embodiment has been described by way of example only, and not inany limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications arepossible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims. For example cap 42 may engage body 28 by means of asnap on fitting.

1. A device for sealing an aperture for receiving a fixing for a sealedenclosure, the device comprising: a body having an aperture extendingfrom a first surface of said body to a second surface of said body andadapted to receive a said fixing, a fixing engaging portion for engagingsaid fixing, and retaining means adjacent said first end for engagingand sealing said body within the aperture of the enclosure; and a capfor engaging said body to close said aperture at said second surface. 2.A device according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means is adaptedto engage said enclosure by means of mutually engaging threads in saidretaining means and said aperture of said enclosure.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said retaining means is adapted to bewelded to said enclosure.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidretaining means is adapted to be rivetted to said enclosure.
 5. A deviceaccording to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body and saidcap engage each other in use by means of mutually engaging threads.
 6. Adevice according to claim 5, wherein the thread on the body is formed ona surface of the aperture of said body.
 7. A device according to any oneof claims 1 to 4, wherein said body and said cap engage each other inuse by means of a snap-on fitting.
 8. A device according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein said cap is provided with a gasket seal.9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein saidbody is made substantially of stainless steel.
 10. A device according toany one of the preceding claims, wherein said cap is made substantiallyof plastic.
 11. A device for sealing an aperture for receiving a fixingfor a sealed enclosure, the device substantially as hereinbeforedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.